An Artisanal Pencil Sharpener?

David Rees has made me so happy today. I can't help but smile at his new business: artisanal pencil sharpening. Doesn't this seem like such a happy job? I love the way David describes why he developed his pencil-sharpening business: "I've always loved the iconic No. 2 pencil," he explained. "When I was working for the 2010 census, we were each issued No. 2 pencils and a manual sharpener. We all sharpened our pencils on the first day of training, and I was like, 'I'm feeling this. This rules. I like sharpening pencils.' It had been a while since I had done it. And the more I thought about it, the more I was like, 'If I could figure out how to get paid to sharpen pencils, I would be happy.' So I decided to become an artisanal pencil sharpener."

How great to take something on a whim and decide to just do it, with a wink. It is only (well, maybe not only) $15 for one sharpened pencil, and I think it would be such a fun good luck gift for someone about to take the SAT, or the Bar Exam, or any other standardized test where a number 2 pencil is required. Also, as the wife of a teacher, I would be so charmed if a freshly sharpened pencil were given to Zach on his first day. Or maybe, as a mom, lovingly placing one (along with its Certificate of Authenticity and accompanying shavings) in a backpack to surprise your kid on his first day of school. Such fun. P.S. What strange but tranquil thing would you get paid to do if you could? I think mine would be folding warm cloth diapers. It feels so nostalgic and calm and like my world is under control. Or maybe chopping nuts. I love to chop nuts. Zach always uses the food processor, but I prefer the handmade, 6th-grade-shop wood cutting board and a chef's knife. So satisfying.